A History of Ancient Near Eastern Law

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2.1.3.2 Provincial and City-State Administration

2.1.3.2.1 City-states and provinces had capitals (e.g., ΩGirsu for Laga“)

where the temple of the main god was to be found, but there were

also sub-centers (in Laga“, e.g., Niºgin and Gu"aba), which also housed

temples of other important deities. In OS times, the temples served

as administrative centers and their administrators, the saºgºga, played

an important role in governing temple estates. They also had to

defend their territory against enemies.

2.1.3.2.2 An important civil office not (directly) related to the tem-

ples, was that of the Great Vizier (sukkal-ma¢), who, in the edicts

of Irikagina is named second to the steward, both having received

payments for divorces and marriages(?), a custom now abolished.^36

In OS Laga“, other senior offices are the Great Scribes (dub-“ar-

ma¢), Great Lamentation Priests (gala-ma¢) of different (divine) house-

holds, the Great Seafaring-Merchant (ga:e“ 8 -ma¢), the Great One of

Heralds (gal nimgir.k), and, again related to different households, the

Great One of Merchants (gal dam-gàr.k).^37

2.1.3.2.3 Sargonic provinces enjoyed a certain independence: in

Umma, the royal “Akkadian” standard measures were used along-

side a local system called “Sumerian” (see further below).^38

2.1.3.3 Local Government

Elders (ábba) and city elders (ábba-iri.k) are attested, as is a “town

overseer” (ugula iri.k).^39 Nothing is known of the latter’s functions.

2.1.3.4 Taxes, Public Service and Corvée

2.1.3.4.1 The OS records of the Ba’u temple at ΩGirsu show a large

number of personnel receiving rations all year round. Professionals,

(^36) FAOS 5/1 Ukg. 6 ii 15'–27' || iii [x]–5'[+y].
(^37) In lú-.
ºg-texts; see Bauer, Altsumerische Wirtschaftstexte.. ., 214.
(^38) Wilcke, “Zum Königtum.. .,” 205 B 4–9, and “Politische Opposition.. .,”
44–47.
(^39) Bauer, Altsumerische Wirtschaftstexte.. ., p. 128; BIN 8 347 (FAOS 15/2 75) iv
4–5; the summary speaks of lú .ºg “-lugal-ke 4 -ne “important people (and)
royal servants(?).” For the Sargonic period, see, e.g., Gelb, Old Akkadian.. ., no. 6:1;
Foster, “Business Documents.. .,” no. 8:2–3.
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